Wood graining machine



Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WOOD GRAINING MACHINE Arthur I. Baldwin, Oakland, Calif.

Application March 15, 1935, Serial No. 11,315

2 Claims. (01. 144-115) This invention is a wood graining machine and is directed to a machine for removing the summer wood While leaving the winter wood so as to cause the wood to appear weathered and setting the grain in relief.

In finishing a piece of lumber in the ordinary manner such as planing andsanding, the grain is only apparent due to the difference in density between the summer and winter wood or to the difference in color or shade therebetween.

This invention contemplates the removal of a portion of the summer wood, leaving the winter wood intact whereby the winter wood sets out in bold relief and which may be accentuated by tint- 5 ing with different colors from various angles if desired, providing very artistic effects especially where burls are treated by my process.

The main object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a machine which will remove the summer wood to any desired depth while leaving the winter wood intact, thereby presenting the grain of the wood in relief.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described with which definite longitudinal bands of relieved grain may be formed in the board or by which broad panels may be relieved throughout their entire surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine as outlined with adjusting means whereby the depth of relief may be governed, the machine being adjustable to compensate for wear in the cutting elements as also for gauging the depth of the out.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description is read on the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts through the several views, of which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing a board passing through the machine.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the machine.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a board indicating the work done by the machine.

The invention consists of a frame III having mounted thereon a plurality of driven rolls I I rotatably mounted in bearings I2, forming a support for the boards or panels while being relieved.

Adjustably mounted in nuts 36 secured to one side of the frame It], are vertically disposed screw shafts 31, each provided with a beveled pinion 38, meshing with a similar pinion 39, on shaft 40, which is rotatably mounted in a head I3. A hand wheel 4] is provided for rotating said shaft 40, so as to effect simultaneous rotation of the screw shafts 31in either direction. Each screw shaft 31 is provided with a grooved collar 31* which is engaged by an angular portion of a bracket I3 depending from said head, so that the head is caused to be raised or lowered by rotation of the shaft 31.

Mounted in bearings I4 carried by said head is a brush carrying shaft I5, which shaft is driven by a suitable motor I6 and on which shaft, brushes I'I-I8 are suitably secured, the brushes being driven preferably at motor speed.

The brushes are formed of a multiplicity of substantially fine tempered steel wires, the usual spring steel or piano wire being preferable so that the ends may retain their edges.

The rollers I I are driven at a comparatively low speed by suitable belting or gearing as is indi- Idle rollers 26 are suitably spaced at the discharge end of the machine and an adjustable idle roller 21 is mounted in links 28 which are adjustable through links 29 and lever 35 by means of the hand lever 3|, the roller being urged by spring 32. This idle roller is only needed under certain conditions, the machine operating just as eificiently with certain kinds of wood without the use of this roller while with certain kinds of wood the idle roller is required to prevent the brush from dragging the wood through the machine too quickly.

The head I3 is indicated as being slidably mounted in pipes 33 which are secured to the frame III as indicated at 34, the head having standards formed of pipe sections 35 which are slidable in the pipe 33. It will be noted that the head I3 is of a cantilever type of construction, and the arrangement of the telescoping members with respect to the screws 3'! is such that said members relieve the screws of the strain imposed by the weight of the overhanging head and mechanism thereby, so that the screws may be rotated without binding.

Fixedly secured to the frame It are nuts 36 in which are threadedly mounted the adjusting screws 31 which are operated coincidently by means of bevel gears 38 and 39 which bevel gears 39 are mounted on a shaft 40, which shaft is provided with a hand wheel 4| whereby the head may be adjusted to suit the depth of graining and the thickness of the board being grained.

In Figs. 1 and 3, the operation of the machine is clearly disclosed, the board 42 being acted on by the brush H, the end 43 of which clearly indicates the grain of the wood set in relief by cutting out the summer wood, Fig. 5 clearly indicating the result of the operation in which the ridges 44 indicate the winter wood and the relieved portions 45 indicate where the summer wood has been cut away between the ringsof winter wood. It will be noted that to increase the depth of the relief 45, it is but necessary to adjust the brush I! to a lower position, I

- required.

The brush being formed of thin wire, creates but little friction on the board while the rollers I. feed the board through the machine at a low rate of speed, the brush cutting away the summer wood and leaving the winter wood in relief. Where additional friction is required to drive the board, the roll 21 is adjusted into operative position as is shown in Fig. 2.

Where wide panels are to be grained, one edge of the panel may first be grained with the other edge extending out through the gap 46 and after its passage therethrough, the panel may be reversed and passed through the machine a second time.

In the event that the depth of relief is not as deep as desired in the first passage through the machine, the board may be passed through the machine a second time to increase this depth without in any way changing the result other than to increase the relief.

engaging said frame, a head having brackets at one end through which said screw shafts extend,

means preventing movement of the brackets axially of the screw shafts, said head and said frame having complemental guide members located at one side of the frame adjacent to said screw shafts and so relatively constructed and arranged with respect to the screw shafts as to prevent binding of the brackets during rotations of said shafts, said head being extended laterally over the frame and rollers with its outer end free, a brush rotatably supported by said head, and means for rotating said screw shafts so as to raise and lower said head with respect to the frame.

,2. A wood graining machine comprising a frame, a plurality of transversely arranged aligned rollers mounted in said frame, tubular guide members secured to one side of the frame, rotatably spaced screw shafts adjustably engaging said frame adjacent to said tubular guide members, a head having brackets at one end through which said screw shafts extend, said head extending laterally over the frame and rollers and having its other end free, means carried by said screw shafts for preventing axial movements of the brackets with respect to said shafts, rods secured to said head and telescoping within said tubular guide members, a brush rotatably supported by said head, and means for simultaneously rotating said screw shafts so as to raise and lower the head with respect to the plane of said rollers.

ARTHUR I. BALDWIN. 

